Multi-chamber airbed

ABSTRACT

A multi-chamber airbed reduces the effect of weight movement by one or more persons sleeping or sitting on the airbed. In the multi-chambered airbed of the present invention, there are at least two chambers inside the airbed, each chamber having its own air valve and representing its own portion of the airbed. The chambers are completely sealed off from each other by a barrier or septum within the airbed. Thus, when one person shifts his or her weight on the portion of the airbed over one chamber, air does not flow to the other chamber or portion of the airbed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to inflatable airbeds; specificallyto a multi-chamber airbed.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002] Inflatable airbeds (i.e., “airbeds”) are well known in the artand have proven themselves to be very useful. On the one hand, whenthere is no need to sleep on the inflatable airbed, the owner may simplydeflate the airbed (i.e., let all the air out), fold it up, and thenstore it away in a closet or basement. On the other hand, when guestsarrive or when the owner of the airbed takes a trip to a place wherethere is no bed to sleep on, the owner may simply inflate the airbed andsleep on it.

[0003] Current inflatable airbeds have a single chamber, meaning thatair can travel anywhere inside the airbed since there is no barriersealing off one portion of the airbed from another. Therefore, whenmultiple people sleep or sit on the airbed, air is constantly beingmoved from one portion of the airbed to another as the weight of theperson is shifted.

[0004] For example, suppose person A is sleeping on the left side of aninflated queen size airbed. Because there is currently no weight on theright side of the airbed, air would naturally flow toward the unweightedright side of the airbed until an equilibrium pressure condition isestablished (i.e., the right side cannot hold anymore air). Thisshifting of air to the right side consequently would cause the rightside of the airbed to rise. However, coils within the airbed prevent theright side from rising beyond a certain height.

[0005] Next, suppose person B wants to sleep on the now elevated rightside of the airbed. As person B descends onto the right side of theairbed, this new weight causes a redistribution of the air back towardthe left side of the airbed where person A is sleeping. Air flows backto the left side of the air bed causing the left side to rise due to thenewly added air pressure underneath. This unexpected elevation in theleft side of the airbed may even awake person A. Furthermore, each timeperson A or B moves around during their sleep and causes a shift inweight on the airbed, air will also be shifted arounded inside theentire airbed. This constant movement of air inside the entire airbed inresponse to weight shifts causes different portions of the airbed torise and fall until the weight movement stops. This constant rocking,elevation or depression of various portions of the airbed every time oneperson moves can disrupt a good night's sleep.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention reduces theeffect of weight movement by one or more persons sleeping or sitting onthe airbed by providing for a multi-chamber airbed. In the multi-chamberairbed of the present invention, there are at least two chambers insidethe airbed, each chamber having its own air valve and representing itsown portion of the airbed. The chambers are completely sealed off fromeach other by a barrier or septum within the airbed. Thus, when oneperson shifts his or her weight on the portion of the airbed over onechamber, air does not flow into the other chamber or portion of theairbed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective cut away view of an embodiment of amulti-chamber airbed in accordance with the present invention.

[0008]FIG. 2 is a front cut away view an embodiment of a multi-chamberairbed in accordance with the present invention.

[0009]FIG. 3 is a perspective cut away view of an alternative embodimentof a multi-chamber airbed in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] In the following description, various aspects of the presentinvention will be described. For purposes of explanation, specificconfigurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the present invention. Furthermore, well known featuresmay be omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the presentinvention.

[0011] In the exemplary embodiment, there is provided a multi-chamberairbed. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the multi-chamber airbed willbe described as a dual chamber airbed (i.e., an airbed with twochambers). One skilled in the art will recognize that the airbed of thepresent invention can have more chambers if so desired.

[0012] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the exemplary embodiment, theexterior of the multi-chamber airbed 1 of the present invention may beof any design known in the art. The airbed 1 of the exemplary embodimentshown includes a top sheet 2, a bottom sheet 3, and a side trim 4wherein the top edges of the side trim 4 are connected to the edges oftop sheet 2 and the bottom edges of the side trim 4 are connected to theedges of bottom sheet 3 such that the airbed 1 forms a sealed vessel orcontainer to keep the air or any other gaseous medium inside the airbed1. The side trim 4 may be connected to the top sheet 2 and bottom sheet3 by any welding or sealing means known in the art to prevent gas fromleaking out at the connection seams. Alternatively, the top sheet 2,bottom sheet 3, and side trim 4 can all be made of one piece so that nowelding or sealing is necessary.

[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, there are also coils 5 locatedthroughout the interior of the airbed 1 which are connected on one endto the top sheet 2 and on the other end to the bottom sheet 3. Thesecoils 5 serve to maintain the shape of the airbed 1 by preventing thevarious portions of the top sheet 2 (or bottom sheet 3) from stretchingout too far (for example into a balloon shape) when air is shifted bymovement of weight on the airbed 1.

[0014] Also shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention, there is a first chamber 7 and a second chamber 8created by an internal barrier 6 (or septum). As shown in FIG. 1, theinternal barrier 6 creates the second chamber 8 by completely sealingoff one portion of the airbed 1 from its neighboring or surroundingportion such that no air or gas from the area outside this sealed offportion can flow into it. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1and 2, this seal is created, for example, by connecting (i.e., sealingor welding) the top edge of the internal barrier 6 to the top sheet 2and the bottom edge of the internal barrier 6 to the bottom sheet 3.

[0015] Alternatively, in an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 3, theinternal barrier 6 is not connected to either the top sheet 2 or bottomsheet 3 so that the second chamber 8 can move freely within a firstchamber 7. Instead, as shown in FIG. 3, the internal barrier 6 is onlyattached to the side trim 4. In yet another alternative embodiment, theinternal barrier 6 may be connected to only one of a top sheet 2 or abottom sheet 3. In accordance with the present invention, the internalbarrier 6 can be arranged or attached in a variety of configurations solong as the internal barrier 6 prevents air from flowing from onechamber to another.

[0016] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the secondchamber 8 is located within the first chamber 7. Alternatively, thefirst chamber 7 and second chamber 8 of the exemplary embodiment showncan be two separate chambers instead of one being located within theother. For example, the internal barrier 6 can simply be one striprunning down the middle of the airbed 1 to internally separate the righthalf of the airbed 1 from the left half of the airbed 1.

[0017] Furthermore, while it is shown in the exemplary embodiment inFIGS. 1 and 2 that the internal barrier 6 creates a simple rectangularshaped second chamber 8, one skilled in the art will recognize thatother shapes of first chamber 7 or second chamber 8 (or other chambersif more than two) are possible. For example, the internal barrier 6 mayform chambers the shape of a square, oval, circle, cylinder, or anyshapes as desired, including amorphous shapes.

[0018] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 (and thealternative embodiment shown in FIG. 3), there is also an air valve 9for each chamber 7 and 8. The air valve 9 may be any air valve known inthe art, such as a Double Lock valve, a Boftic valve, etc. As air cannotflow from one chamber to the other, it is necessary that each chamber inthe exemplary embodiment shown has its own valve 9 to fill up eachchamber individually. Since each chamber has its own air valve 9, theuser can fill the first chamber 7 with more air pressure than the secondchamber 8, for example, to make one portion of the airbed 1 firmer thanthe other as desired. Additionally, the user can also choose, forexample, to only fill up the first chamber 7 or second chamber 8 insteadof inflating the whole airbed 1. In the exemplary embodiment shown, thetwo air valves 9 may be located anywhere on the top sheet 2, bottomsheet 3, or side trim 4 within their respective chambers.

[0019] The airbed 1, coils 5, and internal barrier 6 may be made of anymaterial such as vinyl, plastic, rubber, etc. which are not permeable toair or gas.

What is claimed is:
 1. An airbed, comprising: a top sheet having asleeping surface and being sized so that two people may lay side by sideon the top sheet, so that a first person may lay on a first portion ofthe top sheet while a second person is laying on a second portion of thetop sheet; a bottom sheet connected along edges of the bottom sheet tothe top sheet so as to form a vessel for containing gas; and an interiorbarrier located in the vessel, the internal barrier creating first andsecond chambers in the vessel, the first chamber being situated underthe first portion of the top sheet, and the second chamber situatedunder the second portion of the top sheet.
 2. The airbed of claim 1,wherein the top sheet and the bottom sheet are connected by side trim.3. The airbed of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of coils, eachcoil being attached to the top sheet and the bottom sheet.
 4. The airbedof claim 1, further comprising a first air valve for the first chamberand a second air valve for the second chamber.
 5. The airbed of claim 1,wherein the internal barrier creates an enclosure, separate from the topsheet and the bottom sheet, that forms the second chamber.
 6. The airbedof claim 1, wherein the first chamber is positioned within the secondchamber.
 7. The airbed of claim 1, further comprising a first pluralityof coils extending between a top of the first chamber and a bottom ofthe first chamber.
 8. The airbed of claim 7, further comprising a secondplurality of coils extending between a top of the second chamber and abottom of the second chamber.
 9. An airbed, comprising: a top sheethaving a sleeping surface and being sized so that two people may layside by side on the top sheet, so that a first person may lay on a firstportion of the top sheet while a second person is laying on a secondportion of the top sheet; a bottom sheet connected along edges of thebottom sheet to the top sheet so as to form a vessel for containing gas;a first chamber in the vessel being situated under the first portion ofthe top sheet; and a second chamber in the vessel situated under thesecond portion of the top sheet.
 10. The airbed of claim 9, wherein thetop sheet and the bottom sheet are connected by side trim.
 11. Theairbed of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of coils, each coilbeing attached to the top sheet and the bottom sheet.
 12. The airbed ofclaim 9, further comprising a first air valve for the first chamber anda second air valve for the second chamber.
 13. The airbed of claim 9,wherein the first chamber is positioned within the second chamber. 14.The airbed of claim 9, further comprising a first plurality of coilsextending between a top of the first chamber and a bottom of the firstchamber.
 15. The airbed of claim 14, further comprising a secondplurality of coils extending between a top of the second chamber and abottom of the second chamber.
 16. An airbed, comprising: a top sheet; abottom sheet connected along outer edges of the bottom sheet to the topsheet so as to form a vessel for containing gas; a first chamber in thevessel defining a top and a bottom; a second chamber in the vesseldefining a top and a bottom; a first plurality of collapsible coilsextending from the top of the first chamber to a bottom of the firstchamber; and a second plurality of collapsible coils extending from atop of the second chamber to a bottom of the second chamber.
 17. Theairbed of claim 16, wherein the top sheet and the bottom sheet areconnected by side trim.
 18. The airbed of claim 16, further comprising afirst air valve for the first chamber and a second air valve for thesecond chamber.
 19. The airbed of claim 16, wherein the first chamber ispositioned within the second chamber